Freerice

Thursday, November 15, 2012

www.freerice.com

Freerice was developed by the World Food Programme.  Its main objective is to fight against hunger, while providing free education online.  They have raised enough rice to feed millions of people. For every correct question answered on Freerice, 10 grains of rice are donated to the United Nations World Food Program.  Participants are warned:  “This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance...”

The website can be used for middle school students and high school students, as the level goes from one to sixty.  If a student answers a question correctly, they get a harder question. If they get it wrong, they get an easier question.  So the student’s level is basically targeted at the beginning to make the learning appropriate for that student.  The subjects included are:  humanities, math, language learning, English, chemistry, geography, science and test preparation.  Teachers can create a group for a class and register each of student so that they have a login username and password.  Up to 40 students can be registered if you register them as under 14 years of age). Give them the link to your group, and let them "Join". 

When you are signed up as a player on Freerice you can:
- track your totals permanently,
- join and create groups,
- share your results on Facebook and Twitter,
- find and follow friends,
- see your results in the ranking table

-let others see and be inspired by your totals.

WBI Scoring            

Instructional Aspects
• Objectives clearly stated:   4
• Objectives appropriately sequenced:   5
• Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives:   4
• Instructional activities / process clearly described:    5
• Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives:  5
• Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives:  5
• Learning achievement adequately evaluated:  5
• Evaluation criteria clearly expressed:  3
Motivational Aspects
• Gaining and maintaining learners' attention:  5
• Relating to learners' interest and goals: 5
• Building on learners' prior knowledge and foreshadowing what lesson is about: 4
• Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment: 5
• Motivational strategies serve for objectives: 5
Web Design Aspects
• Navigation clear and easy to access: 5
• Authorship and date clearly stated: 5
• Text follows rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition: 5
• Using of multimedia visually appealing: 5
• Mechanical aspects: 5
• Web design appropriate for objectives: 5
• Web design appropriate for learner characteristics: 5

Total     95 /100

In my opinion, Freerice is a good website to use.  At my school, we have an unusually high number of basic and below basic students, who can really benefit from the English vocabulary and grammar.  I can use the website to incorporate literacy into my classroom.   The bowl of rice is a GREAT motivator for the students, as they compete to donate more rice than their classmates.  In the process, they are learning, as they receive immediate feedback.  If they give an incorrect answer, they are given the correct answer and the opportunity to answer that question correctly, as the question will be asked again until the student gets it right.   This is not a sophisticated website, but it would be practical and beneficial for my purposes.

Finding Common Ground Curriculum Evaluation

http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Education/ConservationCentral/teacher/default.cfm

Finding Common Ground Curriculum is a middle school curriculum developed by the Friends of the Smithsonian National Zoo and Fujifilm.  This curriculum is aligned with both the National Science and the National Social Studies Standards, and contains six modules.  Teachers may choose to incorporate all of the modules into their curriculum, or simply choose the ones they want to use.  If all six modules are incorporated, students may develop a Class Conservation Action Plan at the end of the modules.  The curriculum includes several online, interactive simulations and games that greatly enhance the modules.  It also includes family learning activities and investigation questions for students to answer as they are investigating the environment.

The six modules are:

1. In My Own Backyard – Students conduct a biological inventory of their schoolyard
2. Understanding Habitat:  The Temperate-Forest Biome - Students apply what they learned in the first module in a live field study and an online, virtual field study
3. Exploring the Temperate Forest:  Biodiversity and Interdependence – Students explore the interdependence of plants and animals
4. Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park Research and Conservation – Students apply research and design a virtual Panda Habitat
5. People and the Forest – Students create a conservation model
6. What You Can Do! – Students create a Class Conservation Action Plan

This curriculum is inquiry-based, stimulates creativity and curiosity, encourages students to journal, ask questions and take steps to create a collaborative product at the end of the modules.  The virtual games and activities are well-done and engaging for middle school-aged students and younger.  I’m going to go through some of the modules with my 5 year old daughter, and I believe she will be very interested and able to understand many aspects of the curriculum.

WBI Scoring
Instructional Aspects
• Objectives clearly stated: 5
• Objectives appropriately sequenced: 5
• Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives: 5
• Instructional activities / process clearly described: 5
• Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives: 4
• Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives: 5
• Learning achievement adequately evaluated: 4
• Evaluation criteria clearly expressed: 3
Motivational Aspects
• Gaining and maintaining learners' attention: 5
• Relating to learners' interest and goals: 5
• Building on learners' prior knowledge and foreshadowing what lesson is about: 4
• Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment: 5
• Motivational strategies serve for objectives: 5
Web Design Aspects
• Navigation clear and easy to access:  4
• Authorship and date clearly stated:  5
• Text follows rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition: 5
• Using of multimedia visually appealing: 4
• Mechanical aspects: 4
• Web design appropriate for objectives: 4
• Web design appropriate for learner characteristics: 4

Total 90/100

Oops!

Well, I knew I had heard about Sumdog before, but I looked through all of our posts on this blog and didn't see Katharyn's post until today.  It was in response to Dr. Hu's first post, so it's not listed on the right side of the page as one of our posts and that's why I didn't see it!  Please understand that I review many, many websites each week, and after awhile it's hard to remember where I saw or heard of one.

So, I'll review another site and post another evaluation as soon as I can.  Thanks for understanding!

Waterlife (this is not a required post)

Hi!  Well, I came across this web-based instruction, and I just had to share it with you.

It's called Waterlife and is an interactive story about the water cycle of the Great Lakes.  Just look at it; it's amazing!  (Well, I thought so anyway.)

Again, this isn't a required post nor does it require a response.  I just wanted to pass this along.

View Waterlife here.

Khan Academy --posted for TayrenC

http://www.khanacademy.org/

 Khan Academy is a free websit4e designed to cover several different topics.  It started out as one man posting math tutorials for his niece on YouTube since she lived across the country, but need help with her math homework.  The tutorials became so popular that he founded Khan Academy and expanded the subject matter to include science, computer science, finance, economics, and humanities and test prep.  You can log in using your Google account and it will keep track of your progress.  Then all you need to do is choose a subject that you want to learn about.  When you choose a topic, you are then given a series of tutorial options to choose from that build on each other.  The tutorials are done using video, which are insightful and engaging.  In the math section you have the option to test your knowledge by quizzing yourself about the subject covered in the tutorial.  In other sections, you can leave questions in the comment area located below the tutorial and someone will answer those questions or expand on the topic more. 
Instructional Aspects
1. Objectives clearly stated - 3
2. Objectives appropriately sequenced - 5
3. Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives - 4
4. Instructional activities/process clearly described - 5
5. Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives -4
6. Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives - 4
7. Learning achievement adequately evaluated - 4
8. Evaluation criteria clearly expressed - 4

Motivational Aspects
9. Gaining and maintaining learner's attention - 5
10. Relating to learner's interest and goals - 5
11. Building on learner's prior knowledge and foreshadowing what the lesson is about - 4
12. Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment - 4
13. Motivational strategies serve for objectives - 4

Web Design Aspects
14. Navigation clear and easy to access - 5
15. Authorship and date clearly stated - 1
16. Text follows rules of grammar, spelling, and literary composition - 3
17. Use of multimedia (Text, graphic, audio, video, animation, etc.) visually appeal - 5
18. Mechanical aspects (No broken links, misplaced or missing images, etc.) - 5
19. Web design appropriate for objectives - 5
20. Web design appropriate for learner characteristics – 5

Total 84 /100

 The objectives for this site are not easily found or stated.  If you click on the About tab, then you are able to view how the site works and the ideas behind it.  I think since the site covers so many subjects, one objective statement would be difficult.  I thought that using the site was fairly intuitive, though I did not see the option to test myself in the math section right away. I love that if you ask a question about a subject someone from the site will answer back with clear and concise information.  I also love the tutorials.  They are engaging, sometimes funny, and also put into terms that are easy to follow, so they are accessible to almost anyone.

Test Page

Test Page

typingweb - WBI Evaluation

URL:  http://www.typingweb.com/

Typingweb is free online typing tutorial.  The website is designed for both educational and personal tutoring.  The website is designed around three tabs, and my description will follow the same format.

Teachers can sign-up for a free account through the teacher portal.  The account allows teachers to enter the names of students and create classes from this list.  The classes can be monitored, and teachers also have the ability to run reports to track student achievement.  The reports have several filters: such as a date range, type, and class.  The reports can even be exported into a spreadsheet format.

The typing tutorial begins with the most basic skills.  The learner can start with the home row keys, or they can immediately skip to intermediate or advanced lessons.  Specialty lessons that cover various topics, like headlines, are also offered for free.  The premium lessons have to be purchased.  Although the lessons are self-paced, each lesson records data such as overall wpm (words-per-minute), overall accuracy rate, lesson accuracy, lesson wpm, and time elapsed.  Anyone can practice these skills; no registration is required, but if you want to keep track of the previously mentioned data, you will need to register for the website.  A user can also change the language and layout and color of the keyboard.  Registration is required to take test or view statistics.  A customized lesson is also available for learners.  The lesson is intended to review and strength the user's weak letters or skills.

The last part will be mentioned briefly.  Users, with a login, can complete certification tests and print them out.  These certifications are supposedly official and approved by the Typing Institute of America.

WBI Evaluation

Instructional Aspects
1.  Objectives clearly stated - 4
2.  Objectives appropriately sequenced - 4
3.  Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives - 5
4.  Instructional activities/process clearly described - 4
5.  Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives - 5
6.  Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives - 4
7.  Learning achievement adequately evaluated - 5
8.  Evaluation criteria clearly expressed - 5

Motivational Aspects
9.  Gaining and maintaining learner's attention - 3
10.  Relating to learner's interest and goals - 4
11.  Building on learner's prior knowledge and foreshadowing what the lesson is about - 5
12.  Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment - 3
13.  Motivational strategies serve for objectives - 4

Web Design Aspects
14.  Navigation clear and easy to access - 4
15.  Authorship and date clearly stated - 4
16.  Text follows rules of grammar, spelling, and literary composition - 5
17.  Use of multimedia (Text, graphic, audio, video, animation, etc.) visually appeal - 3
18.  Mechanical aspects (No broken links, misplaced or missing images, etc.) - 4
19.  Web design appropriate for objectives - 5
20.  Web design appropriate for learner characteristics - 3

Total 83/100

While searching for an appropriate website to evaluate, the business teacher sent out an email about this particular website.  Although this is not in my particular subject of expertise, one of the reasons I was very interested was because of my children.  My oldest son is in fifth grade, and Common Core went into effect this year for grades 3-8.  I have been to enough workshops that I know part of the standards calls for students in some grades to produce typed products.  Just this past week, He had to type up a scientific method report.  He doesn't know how to type, and won't be officially taught until 8th grade.  He manage to complete the assignment with the hunt-and-peck system.   I thought this would be a productive tool for him to use at home.  The second reason I was interested was that the website could be used as alternate method for teaching typing skills to younger students.  This might appeal to schools that have limited resources.

Personally, I like the website.  It is very practical and provides solid instruction for a much needed skill.   It may not be visually appealing, but one must consider the skill that is taught. Visual interest is important, especially for younger learners.  Since the audience for my project is high school students, I will be sure to incorporate elements that make my project visually appealing to my students.

IXL - Multimedia Evaluation for 09/20

IXL is a site that offers users the ability to choose from thousands of math skills ranging from counting on your fingers to experimental probability.  There are over 2300 skills between pre-k and geometry, and IXL does an excellent job of making it simple for teachers or students to select the appropriate practice session.  It is a drill-and-practice format, though.  The practice sessions do not include introductions, tutorials, or direct instruction.  Given that IXL categorizes math skills along grade levels, state curriculum frameworks, and common core standards, users should find site navigation to be highly intuitive.   

IXL’s strength is in its simplified approach: users select a skill and receive immediate feedback as they work.  The feedback sometimes comes in the form of an explanation or example of how to solve a problem.  Such explanations or examples are usually very short and direct.  Users are encouraged to continue working by accumulating points against a clock, through messages telling them they’ve answered correctly, and by receiving notifications of skill mastery.  

There is no audio or video instruction on the site.  It appears that IXL had made a decision to keep its offerings simple and accessible for most users.  In this regard, IXL doesn’t address all learner modalities.  Many of the math questions do employ flash animation to help clarify the problem/process.  IXL is a highly categorized, over-simplified problem generator.  If teachers approach this site with that mind, they should find it to be a useful online learning tool.

Users can access IXL for free, but this version lacks the unlimited access, tracking, and reporting that makes it useful for learners and educators.  IXL offers subscriptions for classrooms ($199 per year, 100 user accounts) or families ($79 per year, 5 user accounts). 

Visit IXL at http://www.ixl.com/

WBI Scoring:

Instructional Aspects

• Objectives clearly stated: 3
• Objectives appropriately sequenced: 5
• Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives: 4
• Instructional activities / process clearly described: 2
• Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives: 3
• Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives: 3
• Learning achievement adequately evaluated: 4
• Evaluation criteria clearly expressed: 4

Motivational Aspects

• Gaining and maintaining learners' attention: 4
• Relating to learners' interest and goals: 4
• Building on learners' prior knowledge and foreshadowing what lesson is about: 5
• Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment: 5
• Motivational strategies serve for objectives: 4

Web Design Aspects

• Navigation clear and easy to access:  5
• Authorship and date clearly stated:  4
• Text follows rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition: 5
• Using of multimedia visually appealing: 4
• Mechanical aspects: 4
• Web design appropriate for objectives: 5
• Web design appropriate for learner characteristics: 4

Total:  81/100

Personal Reflection
I first came across IXL Math two years ago as I was looking for an alternative to assigning problems out of a math book for homework.  When I came across IXL’s grade-level skills, I was convinced I had found a site that would help engage students in their math homework.  Using the free materials, I started posting links on our class website to IXL practice sessions that correlated to our weekly lessons.  The homework alternative was well received, but there was no way of tracking or grading student work with a free account.  I convinced my school administrator that it was worth the small investment - $199 for a calendar year.  Access to IXL’s tracking system gave me a myriad of reports that could be customized to help me reach individual learners.  From learner deficiencies to skill mastery, I knew where all of my students were within the math curriculum.  In 2010, my 5^th-grade class had an average score of Advanced on the Arkansas Benchmark Exam.  Yes, Advanced.  There were other factors (I had a lot of parent involvement), but IXL made homework fun, different, and easy to turn in.       

In consideration of my project for Multimedia, I would like to create a website for learning math and/or science.  I hope to involve several teachers and students in creating media that assists learners with some of the most troublesome areas of the 7^th and 8^th grade curriculum.  These subjects – math and science – should involve real applications outside the boundaries of classroom walls, so scholastic networking tools and project-based learning may be important components.  I hope to infuse the site with original instructional video and audio created by various member of my school.  I’ll most likely narrow my focus in the days to come, but this is where I stand as of 9/16/12.

English Grammar 101 - Multimedia Evaluation for 09/20

The web-based instructional module I will be reviewing is found at English Grammar 101

This website offers free online lessons for practicing grammar skills in several modules of instruction.  The website also offers several resources for homeschooling, classroom teachers, and school districts.  However, the instructional aspect comes in with the Free Online Grammar Lessons.

The following is the WBI Rubric with my scoring.

Instructional Aspects

• Objectives clearly stated: 5
• Objectives appropriately sequenced: 5
• Instructional strategies appropriate for the objectives: 5
• Instructional activities / process clearly described: 5
• Tasks adequate/significant for achieving objectives: 5
• Resources adequate/significant for achieving objectives: 4
• Learning achievement adequately evaluated: 4
• Evaluation criteria clearly expressed: 5

Motivational Aspects

• Gaining and maintaining learners' attention: 3
• Relating to learners' interest and goals: 4
• Building on learners' prior knowledge and foreshadowing what lesson is about: 5
• Providing positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment: 2
• Motivational strategies serve for objectives: 3

Web Design Aspects

• Navigation clear and easy to access:  3
• Authorship and date clearly stated:  5
• Text follows rules of grammar, spelling and literary composition: 5
• Using of multimedia visually appealing: 1
• Mechanical aspects: 5
• Web design appropriate for objectives: 3
• Web design appropriate for learner characteristics: 3

Total:  74/100

Personal Reflection
The lower scores on the rubric indicate the lack of visually appealing aspects.  While the instructional aspects are well-conceived, there just is not very much in the way of motivating the learner or making the instructional modules appealing to look at.  I do like the idea of the website, as I used to use it in my classroom as a whole-class review of grammar concepts.  But, overall, it is not particularly exciting.  The problem here lies in the fact that grammar, in itself, is generally a boring topic.  So, creating instructional modules that do nothing to enhance the dull content really does not create interest. 

While this is meant to be self-paced and self-correcting, I thought that perhaps more accountability in the evaluation might be helpful in achieving the objectives, as it is very easy to "cheat" your way through the modules and not necessarily learn anything.  A student would have to be very self-motivated to really learn independently, which is why I used this as a whole-class lesson.  The pretests and posttests are relevant, although, they do not climb the ladder of Bloom's taxonomy with application and evaluation.  This website is overall helpful for general skill-building, with the support of an instructor.

In thinking about the application to my own web-based instructional design, I will make sure to add easy navigation and motivation appropriate to the learners.  I will try to maintain a "clean" look so that the user is not distracted by unnecessary information and stimuli.  While I will have an adult audience for my WBI project, I think the same principles apply.  Even adults want to participate in something that is interesting and motivating, instead of boring and almost forgettable!

Media Evaluation Blog Post

Each week, a member of our class will find an online educational module and evaluate it in terms of design and digital media applications using the WBI rubric provided in Blackboard. Then post his or her findings as a post to this blog. The rest of us will come to this blog to visit and post our comments to the original weekly evaluation of the instructional multimedia products.